Burkina Faso: Trade surplus soars to 928 billion
The figures have just been released. And they are telling. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Burkina Faso’s trade balance recorded a surplus of 928.4 billion CFA francs. That is nearly three times higher than the previous quarter, when it stood at 334.7 billion. A rapid surge, a sign that the economy is holding up despite security shocks.
The explanation boils down to two words: Burkina is selling more, and barely buying more. Exports have jumped, though customs has not yet specified which products are driving the growth.
Likely gold. Perhaps cotton. Imports, meanwhile, rose only 0.7%. Barely. Enough to widen the gap and swell the surplus.
The Burkinabè are still importing just as much: 1,126.9 billion CFA francs in the last quarter, compared to 1,118.7 billion the previous quarter.
The increase is moderate. Fuels, machinery, food products, consumer goods the country continues to buy from abroad, but without the bill soaring.
A trade surplus means more money coming in than going out. It means wealth staying in the country.
This helps strengthen foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the CFA franc, and reassure international partners.
In a context where insecurity weighs on economic activity, this performance is a positive signal.
The Government of Captain Ibrahim Traoré can take pride in these figures. They show that, despite the difficulties, the country remains on course.
Economic reforms, the fight against fraud, and support for the mining sector are bearing fruit.
Maurice K.ZONGO
